What do two stacked shipping containers, a former street tagger, and one of America’s leading vending companies have in common?
A mural.
But this wasn’t just any mural. It was an unexpected explosion of color, culture, and legacy, painted across a two-story industrial canvas inside the Las Vegas warehouse of First Class Nevada.
Image Source: First Class Nevada
Street Art to Corporate Tribute
Michelle Marsh, co-owner of First Class Nevada alongside her husband Matt and his brother Ryan, didn’t expect to graffiti their new containers, but that’s exactly what happened.
While attending a year-end event organized by her business group — an arts-themed retreat exploring creative expression — Michelle encountered a muralist with a name as bold as his journey: Misteralek. Once a street tagger weaving through the alleyways of South Central LA, he had recently made headlines for a guerrilla art takeover of Oceanwide Plaza, an abandoned skyscraper project in downtown LA, acting as a symbol of rebellion against corporate America.
What resonated most wasn’t the controversy. It was the authenticity of his story: from outsider to artist, from street name to signature.
“I wasn’t born talented,” Misteralek reflected. “I couldn’t even draw a stick figure at 17. But I had passion. I just kept doing it. Every day. Until one day, it became something.”
At the retreat, he painted a massive mural in just two hours, then sliced it into 110 unique pieces (one for each attendee). Michelle almost left hers behind. But something about the man, his grit, and his craft stuck with her.
Image Source: First Class Nevada
A Spark of Inspiration
Back in Las Vegas, Michelle shared the mural piece and Misteralek’s story with Matt. They had recently installed two 40-foot shipping containers in their warehouse for extra office space. Functional, but uninspiring.
Matt had an idea: “Let’s bring him here and have him paint them.”
Misteralek said yes.
He drove to Vegas, studied the layout, absorbed the rhythms of First Class Nevada’s operation, and asked everything he could about the company. “They told me what mattered most: family, their dog, their brands, and small snippets of their lives,” Misteralek said. “Then they let me go. They didn’t want to micromanage. They just trusted me.”
For an artist who had once been chased for tagging walls, the moment wasn’t lost on him. “That trust? That doesn’t happen often. I was floored.”
More Than Just Paint
Misteralek and his partner — who also happens to be his longtime collaborator and girlfriend — spent a week living in a nearby hotel and transforming the blank containers into a layered, vivid tribute. Using projection techniques for logos and freehand for expressive elements, they worked late into nights, balancing color, concept, and emotion.
“It’s not just about the paint,” he said. “It’s about vision and message. You gotta have a plan, like a game strategy. Where do we start? Where do we layer? Who does what?”
That same instinct — vision, trust, and decisive action — is precisely what’s driven the Marsh’s success in one of the most competitive industries in America. Over decades, Matthew, Michelle, and brother Ryan built First Class Nevada into a regional powerhouse, thriving in a business landscape known for tight margins, high operational complexity, and constant disruption. Their decision to take a chance on a street artist with no corporate resume is cut from the same cloth: see the potential, trust your gut, and make it happen.
For Misteralek, the project was deeply personal: “This was about showing that something once considered ‘graffiti’ — something people used to look down on — can be elevated. It can live inside a multimillion-dollar company and still carry soul.”
The mural, now a focal point of the warehouse, is more than decor. It’s conversation. It’s culture. And it’s a collision of street and strategy that no one saw coming.
Mikey, the dog, was a surprise addition per an employee’s request. Image Source: First Class Nevada
From the Streets to the Spotlight
“When I was tagging in LA, it wasn’t about money,” Misteralek shared. “It was about being seen. Being somebody. But more than that, it was about the passion and love I have for the art. I’ve always been competitive. It’s in my nature to want to be the best I can be. And now, to be hired for that same skill? To be paid to tell someone’s story with my art? That’s wild. And beautiful.”
It hasn’t always been easy. His evolution came with skepticism, setbacks, and sacrifices. But he kept showing up. “There’s no blueprint for this,” he said. “You just grind. You try stuff. You fail. And eventually you start making something that reflects who you are.”
He credits much of his journey to mentors and those willing to give him a shot. “You’d be surprised how many people want to help if you’re just willing to listen and learn.”
The Marsh family was among them. “Matt met me once and tried to write a check right then. No negotiation. Just: ‘How much do you need?’ That blew my mind.”
Image Source: Created by Vending Connection, Photos by First Class Nevada
A Lesson in Seeing Potential
Michelle said there was no master plan, just a gut instinct and a curiosity to try something new. What they ended up with wasn’t just a mural. It was something much deeper. It brought meaning.
From family dogs to corporate hustle, Misteralek stitched together their story with the tools of his past and the perspective of his present. The containers now stand as symbols not just of vending, but of transformation, trust, and human expression.
“It’s a reminder,” said Misteralek, “that where you start doesn’t have to define where you end up. That your struggle can become your superpower. And that even the vending world has room for rebellion, rhythm, and redemption.”
And yes, it’s incredibly cool.
Why Stories Like This Matter – A Note from Vending Connection, a GoGo Refresh Media Company
At GoGo Refresh Media, this is exactly the kind of story we live to tell.
We’re not just another media company. From the route trucks and micro markets to the creative minds behind operations, we’re embedded in the day-to-day of vending, coffee, and convenience services with access to the real stories.
Whether it’s an ex-graffiti artist transforming a warehouse, or a legacy operator bringing fresh energy to breakrooms, we shine a light on the hidden, deeper stories that power this industry.
These aren’t just tales of businesses. They’re stories of hustle, innovation, family, and pride.
And there are so many more to come.
GoGo Refresh Media
Sharing the soul of our industry, one story at a time. Learn more at gogorefresh.com.
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